4 Fabulous-for-Your-Figure Snacks for Women

My friend Janine says breakfast is her favorite meal of the day. My sixth-grade teacher lectured us regularly on the importance of a good lunch. And my mother always said that the family dinner hour was the highlight of her day.

For me, however, my favorite "meal" is snack time. The challenge: like many women, I tend to prefer snacks that aren't particularly healthy. Salty, crunchy chips...fudge-covered, peanut-filled bars...and (a snack my grandmother always made for me) cream cheese spread on a graham cracker, topped with strawberry jam.

Thus began my quest for snacks that satisfied my taste buds as well as my desire to follow a healthy diet. Here are my "Eureka!" food finds.

Four Fabulous-for-Your-Figure (AND Your Taste Buds!) Snacks:

• Fiber One 90-calorie chewy chocolate peanut butter bars: These snack bars are fiber-rich, with a just-right degree of sweetness that makes every chewy mouthful a pleasure. I usually don't like granola bars, but these treats aren't even a distant cousin to the typical sawdust texture of a granola bar. Perfect paired with a glass of milk or cup of tea for an afternoon snack (just one warning: if you share these at work, you may regret your generosity: my entire box vanished in an afternoon!).
• Pirate's Booty: Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. If you love munch'n'crunch types of snacks but don't want the high fat, high calorie concerns associated with potato chips or corn chips, it's time to discover Pirate's Booty. From Barbecue to New York Pizza to Chocolate, the flavors will keep your taste buds happy -- and your figure slim, at 130 calorie calories per one-ounce bag.
• Wheat Thins Crunch Stix: I've been a fan of Wheat Thins for years. Now the manufacturer has developed a new variety that just might make me an addict! Available in different flavors such as Chipotle Pepper and Cinnamon Kick, Wheat Thins Crunch Stix are flavorful, crunchy snacks with 11 grams of whole grain per serving. These low-calorie treats are fabulous combined with a low-calorie or zero-calorie drink (try new Sprite Zero or Vitaminwater Zero to wash them down).
• Old London brand Melba Toast: Whole grain and sesame seed are my favorites in the many varieties available. These satisfyingly crunchy crackers are exceptionally versatile. I use the whole grain variety (just 20 calories a cracker) and spread it with non-fat cream cheese, topped with a fresh strawberry, for a healthy, delicious version of Grandma's favorite after-school snack!